Credit: The Associated Press

Pedestrians board a train at Union Station Friday March 7, 2014 in Los Angeles. Americans are boarding public buses, trains and subways in greater numbers than any time since the suburbs began to boom. Nearly 10.7 billion trips in 2013, to be precise, the highest number since 1956. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

LOS ANGELES — With more trains and buses to take, and the appeal of using travel time for pursuits other than dodging traffic, Americans are taking greater advantage of a renaissance in public transit, according to a new report.

The number of rides taken on public buses, trains and subways has fully recovered from a dip during the Great Recession. And with services restored following economy-driven cutbacks, ridership appears set to resume what had been a steady increase.